Nicky Gavron: We need systemic change

In this interview, Nicky Gavron, member of the London Assembly and Deputy Mayor of London, talks about the future challenges for cities. She believes that a major part of the solution to climate change lies within the cities because of their density of activity, people and expertise. She also emphasis’s the need for visions as well as a systemic change if we are to really make sustainable cities for the future.

Q: What are the overall challenges for cities
today?
The overall challenges are urbanisation and climate change because
the world is urbanising so very rapidly. By 2050, we are expecting
that 2/3 of the world's population is going to live in cities. All
this is driven by population growth and this extra consumption of
resources means various shortages in relations to food, water,
energy and so on.

Q: What is the most important message to give
politicians for cop15?
What the nations needs to know is that there is actually such a
thing as climate prosperity. Stimulating a low carbon recovery,
mitigating climate change is good for the economy, for
competitiveness, for productivity and, above all, for the quality
of life.

Q: What do cities need to do?
Cities are part of the problem but also part of the solution
because they can use and share resources very efficiently. With
their density of activity, people and expertise cities have
the opportunity to come up with very innovative solutions. Also
very important, they control the development of land, the planning
of buildings as well as many of the services crucial in relation to
CO2 emitters.
Nations gathered in Copenhagen need to recognise that
when it comes to practical action, cities are at the centre stage.
We need to resource and empower cities.

Q: What can cities do with their levers?
Cities are doing as much as they can with the levers they have
got. But they need more resources in order to redo their
environmental infrastructure like energy systems, waste systems and
so forth. If you had proactive mandatory legislation, a lot of
things could happen. You could help communities to control their
own energy. I think people would welcome this.

Q: What do city leaders have to do?
First of all, they need to have visions. They need a long term
vision for the future of their city so that people know what they
are aiming for. Secondly, they have to be courageous and have
political will to make difficult decisions. Thirdly, they have to
have a good policy framework to make their cities
sustainable. We need a systemic change, not a silver
bullet.

Q: What should cities do now?
They should create a policy framework and an action plan for
themselves showing how they are going to reduce emissions. You have
to know where your emissions come from so that you can say; this is
what we are going to do with transport, building stock, energy
supply and so forth.

You have got to do something to get people out of the car. What
we did in London was to invest in walking, cycling,
introduction of a travel card and congestion charging. Also in
relations to equity, what was the choice for people who did not
have a car before? They were caught in a gridlock due
to all the traffic.

Q: What is your view on politician's responsibility in
relations to climate change?
We need politicians to work cross party and we need to understand
that we are the 'now generation'. If we do not do any thing about
climate change now, it is too late. We are the first generations
that have the knowledge about climate change. And the
last generation able to do anything about it. If we don't, it
is going to be too late.

Q: What are your thoughts on the future?
I want to spend the rest of my working life on climate change
because now that I get it, I really want to do everything I can. My
dream is that this will be transformative and lead to runaway
collaboration and runaway learning. That it will turn our
values and that we will find something transformative about
it. Lastly, I hope it will put spotlight on some of the hidden
dimensions like solidarity and community it seems like we have
forgotten.

About Nicky Gavron

Nicky Gavron is a member
of the London Assembly and Deputy Mayor of London and has been at
the forefront of developing land use, transport and environmental
policies for London for over two decades. Throughout the 90's, she
was the leader of the London Planning Advisory Committee (LPAC)
where she commissioned research and formulated policies for the
development of a sustainable London, including the initial strategy
on congestion charging. She was heavily involved in shaping what
was to become the new strategic authority for London.

With its establishment in 2000, Nicky became the first statutory
Deputy Mayor of London. In this role, she worked closely with Mayor
Ken Livingstone to set up the GLA's working processes and policy
framework. In particular, she led on shaping the London Plan - the
first long-term strategic plan for London (and its subsequent
review).

She is internationally recognised for her environmental
expertise. She was a key figure in the establishment of the London
Climate Change Agency and the C40 - a worldwide climate change
action group consisting of the world's largest cities. Before she
entered politics, Nicky worked as a lecturer at the Camberwell
School of Art in South London.

British CouncilBritish Council
is the United Kingdom's international organisation for
educational opportunities and cultural relations. We have worked in
Denmark since 1945 as a cultural institute. In recent years,
emphasis has been on three global programme strands:
Intercultural Dialogue, Creative and Knowledge Economy, and Climate
Change.

British Council
Denmark has a five-staff office in the heart of Copenhagen
and is part of a global network of more than 200 offices in
more than 100 countries. British Council is in close contact with
all art network and cultural circles in the United Kingdom, and try
to connect them to similar groups from Denmark.

Meet leading Danish and international architects and professionals, create potential networks and acquire important knowledge about the architectural, construction and innovative industries though seminars, publications and case studies.

THE BEST VIEW OVER COPENHAGEN HARBOUR

UNIQUE LOCATION FOR MEETINGS AND
CONFERENCES

We provide professional conference facilities and you will have the
opportunity to visit our changing exhibitions, and enjoy a light
lunch or a cup of coffee and a cake in our café on the first
floor.

TEACHING ARCHITECTURE

We offer courses for different age groups in connection with
Danish Architecture Centre's temporary exhibitions. The activities
are suited to varying target groups depending on the type of
exhibition and wherever possible the courses include hands-on
activities for children. The courses can also be conducted in
English.